re:CONNECT – 2 weeks left to enter the City’s ideas competition…

A reminder from the City of Vancouver about their design competition for the future of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts:

Deadline approaches for ideas competition on future of viaducts and Eastern Core

Only two weeks remain to enter the re:CONNECT ideas competition, which is open to anyone with inspiring and innovative concepts for the future of Vancouver’s viaducts and Eastern Core.

The competition is part of the City of Vancouver’s ongoing review of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts and strategic planning for the Eastern Core, which stretches from Northeast False Creek to Clark Drive. Registration deadline is November 2, and entries must be received by November 4.

Citizens and design professionals are encouraged to think big and bold about the possibilities, taking inspiration from transformative urban projects such as New York’s High Line, a linear park built on a decommissioned elevated rail track and Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon, where an elevated highway was removed to create an urban recreation space featuring a day-lighted stream. 

The opportunity to offer ideas for shaping Vancouver’s future has sparked interest around the world. Since the launch of re:CONNECT in late September, over 70 registrations from more than a dozen countries have been received.

While no decisions on the future of the viaducts are being made through re:CONNECT, the City welcomes inspiration and fresh views to help inform future planning.

The competition is divided into two entry streams — free and fee. Both streams will accept submissions in three categories: Big Picture, Viaducts, and Wild Card.

The free stream is directed toward people from any background. The fee stream, while open to anyone who wishes to enter, is directed more at design professionals such as architects, engineers and urban planners. This stream requires an entry fee and will include a monetary award for winning entrants.

Winners from both streams will have their ideas presented in post-competition literature that will be made available online and to Vancouver City Council and profiled at a public forum.

An independent design jury, made up of renowned international and local urban experts, will choose the winners in both streams. A People’s Choice Award will also be given in each category with the winning entries decided by public online voting, which will be open from November 21-25.

Winners will be announced at a public forum on December 1.

To enter or for more information: vancouver.ca/reconnect